Working and Living in Tanzania

In 2020, 69 Germans officially emigrated to the United Republic of Tanzania and 129 returned to their homeland. Within the 10 years from 2010 to 2019, 1,353 Germans officially emigrated to Tanzania and 1,544 moved back to Germany.

This East African country has a beautiful coastline (1,424 km) on the Indian Ocean. Tanganyika (as it was originally called) gained independence from Great Britain in 1961 and united with Zanzibar to form Tanzania in 1963.

Tanzania has similar natural beauties as the neighboring country Kenya. Three large lakes are worth mentioning: Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria. Furthermore, the coastal strip with its tropical vegetation, the higher Masai savannah in the north (up to 1,067 m), the southern high plateau (up to 1,200 m) and the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), which attracts many hikers and mountaineers.

The national parks are also recommended, especially the Serengeti. Millions of wildebeest, as well as buffalo, antelopes, elephants, gazelles, cheetahs, giraffes, hyenas, lions and zebras live here. Zanzibar and Mafia Island are ideal for bathing and diving holidays.

There is a tropical climate along the coast of Tanzania and temperate in the mountains. Please note the travel and safety information from the Federal Foreign Office on our contact page (link below). In addition to Swahili (Swahili), English and Arabic (in Zanzibar) are also common Languages.

Labor market

General approvals, permits, and licenses are required to set up a business. The processing time is around 4 weeks. Investors receive support through the Tanzania Investment Center (TIC).

According to countryvv, Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. Mining and tourism are industries that are increasingly being expanded. 82% of the working population are employed in the agricultural sector, 15% in the service sector and 3% in the industrial sector.

There are several universities and other higher education institutions in Tanzania, e.g. several international schools. In Moshi there is a school system from Kindergarten to IB2, in Arusha to S5.

Cost of living

Everyday goods, restaurants and hotels are usually very cheap here.

It would take around € 1,981.28 in Dodoma to maintain the same standard of living that you could have in Berlin with € 3,700.00 (assuming you rent in the cities).

• Consumer prices in Dodoma are 33.15% lower than in Berlin (without rent)
• Consumer prices in Dodoma are 46.45% lower than in Berlin (including rent)
• Rental prices in Dodoma are 76.09% lower than in Berlin
• Restaurant prices in Dodoma are 31.79% lower than in Berlin
• Food prices in Dodoma are 14.64% lower than in Berlin
• The local purchasing power in Dodoma is 81.37% lower than in Berlin

Average cost of living in Dodoma (from 04/2019 – 09/2020)

Average costs for local transport, utilities, clothing, leisure, education by Dodoma (from 04/2019 – 09/2020)

Average rental prices / purchase and salaries of Dodoma (from 04/2019 – 09/2020)

Emigration and living in Tanzania

Travelers and immigrants should also be prepared for the following: floods on the central plateau during the rainy season; otherwise frequent droughts. Deforestation, soil erosion, desertification, destruction of coral reefs, wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially in ivory.

Otherwise there are hardly any dangers from natural disasters and there is also no danger from nuclear power plants. Other advantages of the country: lots of forest, low cost of living (LHK-I 53.3).

The infrastructure is less developed with increasing distance from the coast. There is left-hand traffic on the roads. Tanzania has two railway systems with a total route length of 3,690 kilometers.

Due to the many children per family, the population is on average very young. There is a high mortality rate due to poverty and AIDS. Around 60,000 Tanzanians die every year as a result of malaria.